Family included.

And really, they make it so easy to love them.

“See, you’ll have the whole crew,” he says as his fingers go to work on his text.

“Thanks, Jace,” I say softly, and his lips curve at the side. Then they press together. “Really, it means a lot. What?”

“Shit, Jude has a game the day before and after that, so he can’t fly in. Jayden says he can come, though. The Assassins have a home stint that week, so you’ll have most of my family there.”

Leaning my head to his shoulder, I let my tears fall before squeezing my eyes shut tightly. “Don’t think I’m not grat—”

“I know,” he says quickly, cupping my jaw to look me in the eyes. “I know they aren’t your family, and I’m sorry. But my family is awesome, and they will be there for you one hundred percent. If your family won’t make you happy, I will. Don’t you worry. You will be loved and supported that night.” My lip wobbles as he catches some of my tears. “Now suck it up, buttercup. You are on the fast track to the top. Now, we are going into this shop and getting some badass ice cream to celebrate how awesome you are!”

That makes my lips turn up as I slowly nod. “I couldn’t do it without you.”

He shakes his head. “Yeah, you could, you just don’t have to. You never will have to either,” he says, kissing the back of my hand again. “Now, come on, let’s go.” He winks.

He turns to get out, but I stop him, taking him by the arm. “Really, Jace, thank you.”

“Anytime, baby. I love you.”

He kisses my nose and I close my eyes, basking in the feel of his little act of affection. It’s my favorite thing he does. It’s so trivial, so little, but just the touch of his lips to my nose makes the world go round for me.

“I love you too.”

He sends me a grin, and then he’s out of the car and I’m bursting with love.

I didn’t even know I could fall any harder for him.

But I am.

I’m so unbelievably proud of her.

As she grins, moving her hair out of her face, she’s glowing. Just sparkling before my eyes, and I couldn’t be prouder. She’s living her dreams, making shit happen, and man, I can’t believe she picked me to go on the ride with her. I just can’t stop falling in love with her. Especially when she is eating ice cream. There is something about Avery and Jeni’s ice cream together that has me in all kinds of knots.

Good knots.

Naughty knots.

“I still can’t believe it,” she laughs before licking the ice cream off her spoon. I know I should be listening, but it’s hard when she’s basically making love to that spoon. If only it were my co— “I mean, this is so awesome, right?”

“Yes,” I say, meeting her gaze. “So awesome.”

She glares, and I think I’m caught. “Brat, stop watching me lick this spoon like it’s your cock. You sicko!”

“You said it, so you were thinking it!” I accuse and she grins as she leans on her elbows.

“Maybe, ugh, shut up.” She starts to turn red, and all I can do is laugh. Smiling back at her, I hold my ice cream out for her and she takes a big lick.

“Oooh, good!”

“Right?” I say, taking another bite. “It’s my favorite.”

“I wish I would have gotten it. Salted Caramel?”

“Yup, the best,” I say with a sigh. I love ice cream. But even with my love for the creamy goodness and with pride seeping out of my pores for Avery, I can’t shake the text Jude sent me not even a half hour ago.

Jude: Call me when she’s not around.

I have no clue why he needs to talk to me when Avery isn’t around, but it’s freaking me out.

“Do you work tonight?”

I shake my head. “No, I took the night off because I knew we were either going to celebrate or I was gonna have to hold you all night as you cried.”

“Aw, my hero.” She grins

I point to her. “Does that make you my princess?” I ask with a teasing gaze and she scoffs.

“Please, I’m a queen!”

“Actually, you can’t be a queen without a king.”

She eyes me. “Fine, I’m a princess. But damn it, you better make me a queen.”

I wink. “I got you.” Grinning, she leans across the table, kissing my lips softly. Melting into her kiss, I go to cup her chin, but she pulls away and gets up. I’m confused. “Where you going?”

“To go meet my other boyfriend in the bathroom.”

“Har, har, har.”

She laughs as she heads down the hall to the bathrooms. When she disappears from view, I pull my phone out and open Jude’s text.

Me: Why?

Jude: I need to talk to you.

Me: Okay, well it probably won’t be till tomorrow.

Jude: That’s fine. It’s not a rush.

Me: What’s it about?

Jude: Her.

My face scrunches up. What the hell is going on?

Me: What about her?

Jude: Jace, relax. We’ll talk tomorrow.

I go to text him back, but Avery sits down again and I turn my phone off.

She eyes me playfully. “Texting your girlfriend?”

“Yup, she’s busy, though.”

“Her loss,” she says with a grin before lacing her fingers with mine.

“Very true. Thankfully, I have backup.”

She laughs. “Yeah, whatever.”

I stand up and now she looks confused. “You meeting her in the bathroom?”

“Please, you made me have to pee.”

She chuckles as I disappear into the back, but I don’t have to pee. Dialing Jude’s number, I wait until he answers. “Really, Jace?”

“What’s going on?” For some reason, he has me on edge. Why won’t he just talk to me in front of her?

“I’ll talk to you later. If it was a big deal, I’d talk to you now. Go celebrate with your girl. This is huge for her.”

I roll my eyes. “You got me worried.”

“Don’t be. I don’t even know how I feel about it.”

My eyes widen. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

He laughs. “Go, dude. Call me tomorrow. Alone.”

Blah. “Okay. Love you.”